Product Care

Over the past few years there has been a shift towards natural looking leather furniture as opposed to the more artificial, coloured leathers. The trend is to use one or two leather couches in combination with fabric arm chairs.

Full grain kudu and bovine hides are used most commonly in the upholstery of furniture. Full grain leather is leather which has not been altered beyond hair removal. Full grain leather is the most genuine type of leather, as it retains all of the original texture and markings of the original hide. Leisure Lounge selects only top quality full-aniline and semi-aniline leathers that are finished to give an antique appearance. These hides will mark and scuff and collect character and patina over the years. This is intentional and is designed to give authenticity to the period designs on which it is used.

Full-aniline leather is leather that has been dyed all the way through with a transparent dye. The effect is created by immersing the hides in a dye bath. Because the finish is transparent and shows the natural markings of the leather, only the best quality hides can be used. Semi-aniline leather follows the same procedure, however a matching pigment layer is added to the surface to even out the colour and add protection.

When buying leather furniture, ascertain where and by whom it was manufactured. Many lower quality hides are exported to the East where they are made up and returned to SA as finished products. Ensure you read the small print, ie. leather uppers or leather look. This would indicate that only certain parts of the item are genuine leather or that it is not genuine leather at all. Also take note of the price – if the price of the leather sofa that you are planning to purchase appears really cheap, then it probably is!

General

It is difficult to give precise instructions on doing this yourself since different fibres and fabric constructions require specialist techniques. We therefore recommend that you contact a professional upholstery cleaning company.
The effectiveness of the specialist cleaning will depend upon the degree of soiling. It is therefore advisable to have cleaning done before dirt and general soiling becomes too engrained. Under no circumstances attempt to wash the item or use the dry cleaning machine at your local supermarket. Having cushions cleaned separately can result in a slight mismatch of colours on the furniture. We recommend any cleaning be carried out on the whole piece to balance the effect.

Regular cleaning

Dust and dirt can cause fabrics to wear and spoil colours. This can be avoided by careful brushing with a soft brush and vacuuming using the correct attachment – usually on a weekly basis.

Spots and spills

If accidents occur, always act quickly. Do not rub or soak the material or allow the stain to set in. Absorb the spillage using white kitchen roll or a white absorbant cloth. Where solids are concerned, scrape up with a blunt knife or spatula, being careful not to spread the stain. For wine, spirits or coffee, treat with distilled water only using soap or shampoo as a last resort.

Rather than wait until disaster strikes it may be prudent to consider purchasing some upholstery cleaning fluid now and keeping it safely stored for future use. Most stains respond better to removal attempts while they are still wet.

Before tackling the stain with any cleaning fluid, always do a test on an unexposed part of the sofa to ensure that no further damage is caused. Some cleaning fluids can affect the dye in certain fabrics causing ringing or smudging. If in doubt, do seek professional help.

Q: Are your fabrics Tekno-garded (Scotch-garded)?

A: Yes, certain fabrics are pre-Techno-garded. If not, we are able to Tekno-gard your fabric or leather – this process carries a 3 year warranty.

Q: Does your price include Vat?

A: Yes, all our prices include VAT.

Q: Do you deliver ?

A: Yes, we deliver anywhere in the Durban Area for a minimal fee and delivery can be arranged anywhere in the country via our couriers.

Q: Do your sofas carry a warranty?

A: Yes, all our sofas carry a 10 year warranty on the frame, 2 year warranty on the foam and on any defective workmanship.

Q: How do I treat my leather?

A: Please consult with your sales person to ascertain the type of leather used on your sofa and the required treatment thereof.

Q: What does the “12m” mean in the sofa specifications?

A: The “12m” stands for 12 metres of fabric ie: this is the amount of fabric that is required per sofa. Due to the large fluctuations in fabric prices, the fabric selected by you for your sofa will have a significant influence on the final cost. We offer a range of more than 5000 different fabrics from all the leading fabric houses in varying price categories.

Q: Are your corner-suites custom-made?

A: Yes we are able to custom make a corner suite to fit your exact dimensions. We are able to convert any of our sofa designs into a corner suite and you have a choice of any of our fabrics or leathers.

Cleaning

Your upholstery is designed to be sat on in comfort. Sitting on the edges of cushions or on the arms may cause premature wear and distortion of the fabric and padding. Avoid allowing sharp edges, toys, buckles, jewellery and domestic pets to snag the fabric. If snags do occur, carefully cut them off with scissors – under no circumstances pull them. Do not allow your children to use your upholstery to demonstrate their gymnastic abilities!

Cushions

All cushions should be turned and interchanged regularly to distribute wear. Fibre cushions especially, should be plumped up daily and their position interchanged to maintain their appearance and to give the fillings a chance to recover.

Heat & Sunlight

Upholstery should not be exposed for long periods to direct sunlight as this may result in the fabric fading or even rotting. Protect it by drawing the curtains or blinds. Also avoid leaving your upholstery close to fires or heaters. The use of armcovers and the regular cleaning of these areas will help to extend the useful life of your furniture.